Apparatus for installing and removing flow valves

ABSTRACT

A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and valve pocket offset from the open bore with an actuating shoulder in the mandrel above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus and an orientation sleeve in the mandrel adjacent or below the valve pocket. A valve handling apparatus for use in the mandrel having an actuating key adjacent the upper end and an orienting key adjacent the lower end. The actuating shoulder being positioned out of the open bore and above the pocket.

United States Patent [191 McGowen, Jr.

1 1 Aug. 6, 1974 1 1 APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FLOW VALVES [76] Inventor: Harold E. McGowen, .Ir., No. l

Powderhorn Ln., Houston, Tex. 77024 221 Filed: Apr. 25, 1973 [21] App1.No.:354,361

152] US. Cl. 166/117.5 [51] Int. Cl E21b 7/06 [58] Field of Search l66/1l7.5, 117.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,942,671 6/1960 Schramm 166/117.5 2,948,341 8/1960 Fredd 166/1 17.5 2,988,146 6/1961 Fredd 166/1 17.5 3,610,336 10/1971 Sizer 166/1 17.5 'lerral 166/1175 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fulbright & Crooker [57] ABSTRACT A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and valve pocket offset from the open bore with an actuating shoulder in the mandrel above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus and an orientation sleeve in the mandrel adjacent or below the valve pocket. A valve handling apparatus for use in the mandrel having an actuating key adjacent the upper end and an orienting key adjacent the lower end. The actuating shoulder being positioned out of the open bore and above the pocket.

S'CIaims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUMIB elm SHEET 2 [IF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of an orienting mandrel and kickover tool for installing and removing flow valves from the offset pocket of the mandrel is generally described in copending patent application Ser. No. 95,408 entitled Apparatus for Installing and Removing Flow Valves by Howard H. Moore, Jr. and McGowen, E. McGoven, Jr. Other patents showing orientation sleeves in the bore of a mandrel for angularly positioning the valve handling apparatus relative to the sidepocket for directing the valve handling apparatus into the offset pocket are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,942,671; 2,988,146; 2,948,341; and 3,610,336. The present apparatus is directed to an improved apparatus for installing and removing flow valves which orients and directs a valve handling support into the sidepocket of a mandrel and in which the installing or removing operation may be selectively provided in any of a plurality of vertically spaced mandrels in the well tubing.

SUMMARY one or more vertically spaced tubing mandrels having an offset pocket for receiving flow valves by providing improved means for selectively orienting and actuating a valve handling apparatus in any one of the mandrels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tubing mandrel having an offset pocket with an actuating shoulder positioned above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus and an orienting sleeve, which is positioned adjacent or below the valve pocket, having a longitudinally directed slot and a guide surface therebelow.

It is still a further object of the present invention for providing a valve handling apparatus having an actuating key adjacent the upper end and an orienting key adjacent the lower end for selectively installing or removing a flow valve from a desired mandrel in a well tubing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is an elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating a top portion of the present invention with the valve handling apparatus being oriented in the mandrel,

FIG. 1B is a continuation of FIG. 1A illustrating the lower portion of the mandrel and valve handling apparatus,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, of the top portion of the present invention showing the actuating key in position for releasing the valve handling apparatus, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, of the lower portion of the present invention showing the orienting mechanism in an orienting position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1A and 18, a well tubing 10 is shown having connected therein vertically spaced mandrels 12, here shown only as one for convenience. Each mandrel 12 includes a main or open bore 14 therethrough generally having the same size and aligned with the bore of the well tubing 10, and further includes a sidepocket 16 whose axis is offset from the open bore 14 and includes a valve seat 18 for receiving a flow control valve 19 therein. Generally, a plurality of mandrels 12 are connected in the tubing 10, one above the other, each of which is adapted to receive a flow control valve 19. A valve handling apparatus 20 is generally employed and is moved through the well tubing 10 and mandrels 12 on a wireline or hydraulically pumped therein to install or remove a flow control valve 19 in or from the sidepocket 16.

The present invention is directed to a well installation whereby an apparatus is provided for selectively installing or removing a valve in or from a desired vertically positioned mandrel 12, and orienting the valve handling apparatus or shifting apparatus, generally indicated by the reference numeral 20, relative to the sidepocket 16 for aligning a valve handling support with the sidepocket 16.

Referring to FIG. 18, a guide sleeve 22 is provided positioned aligned with the open bore 14 and positioned adjacent or below the sidepocket 16. The guide sleeve 22 includes a longitudinal guide slot 24 extending from the top to the bottom of the guide sleeve 22, and a guide surface 26 positioned below the slot 24 and directed inwardly and upwardly toward the bottom of the slot 24 for guiding an orienting key upwardly and into the slot 24. The slot 24 is angularly spaced from from the axis of the offset pocket 16 a predetermined amount for rotating and orienting the valve handling apparatus 20 relative to the sidepocket 16 for installing or removing a valve therefrom.

As best seen in FIG. 1A, a downwardly directed actuating shoulder 28 is provided in the mandrel 12 above the sidepocket l6 and preferably out of the open bore 14 and above the sidepocket 16 for actuating the valve handling apparatus 20.

The valve handling apparatus 20 generally includes a support body 30, a shifting tool 32 which is pivotally supported from the support body 30 by pivot 29, a valve handling support 34 which is pivotally carried about pivot 31 by the shifting tool 32 and which in turn supports a flow valve 19 or retrieving tool (not shown). The support body 30 generally includes a guide case 36.

The support body 30 includes any suitable means for moving the apparatus 20 through the tubing 10 and mandrels 12 such as by a hydraulic pump or as shown, for example only, a connection 40 for attachment to a wireline.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the valve handling apparatus 20 also includes a longitudinal movable body generally referred to as 41 including a first part 42 and a second part 44 which are initially secured together by a shear pin 46. The longitudinal movable body 41 is movable relative to the support body 30.

An actuating key 48 is pivotally connected to the first part 42 of the movable body 41 at its lower end by an emergency shear pin 50. The support body 30 also includes an opening 52 through which the actuating key 48 is yieldably urged outwardly by a spring 54. The key 48 includes an upwardly directed shoulder 56 for coacting with the shoulder 28 on the mandrel l2 and includes a downwardly and inwardly tapering face 58. Thus, the key 48 is yieldably urged outwardly at all times, but because of the face 58 will readily pass downwardly over protruding shoulders inside of the well tubing and mandrels l2. Suitable engaging means such as a shoulder 60 is connected to the lower end of the second part 44 of the movable body 41 for engaging a portion of the shifting tool 32 such as pin 62 to keep the tool 32 initially aligned within the guide case 36 and thus aligned with the open bore B4 in the tubing m as the apparatus is initially moved in the well bore. However, when the apparatus is moved into the desired mandrel 12 in which it is desired to install or remove a valve 19, and the shoulder 56 of the actuating key 48 is brought into contact with the downwardly facing shoulder 28 of the mandrel, as will be more fully described hereinafter, the actuating shoulder 58 prevents further upward movement of the movable body 41 but allows further upward movement of the support body 30 which will disengage the shoulder 60 as the pin 62 moves upwardly past the shoulder 60 allowing the shifting tool 32 to be actuated outwardly by spring loaded lug 61 into position over the valve pocket 16 for installing or removing a valve 19.

Once a valve 19 has been installed or removed, or in the event that the apparatus 20 has been run past the desired mandrel and into a lower mandrel, the apparatus 20 may be retracted upwardly either out of the tubing 10 or moved upwardly to an uphole mandrel 12 in which the work is desired to be performed. That is, when the key 48 is raised in the mandrel l2 and the shoulder 56 engages the shoulder 28 in the mandrel 12, the tool 20 may be jarred upwardly shearing shear pin 46. It is to be noted that shear pin 46 has a lower shear point than the emergency shear pin 50.

With the shear pin 46 sheared, the support body 30 may be moved upwardly relative to the movable body part 42 and 44 against the action of a resetting spring 66. It is also noted that the support body 30 has a retracting shoulder 70 which will engage the tapered face 58 on the key 48 on upward movement of the support body 30 relative to the first part 42 of the movable body 41 thereby retracting the key 48 into the interior of the apparatus 20 so that the apparatus 20 may be moved uphole to the next adjacent mandrel 12 thereabove. Because of the action of the resetting spring 66, acting against part 42 of the movable body and the action of spring 54, the actuating key 48 is normally urged outwardly to act in the next adjacent mandrel 12 so that the apparatus 20 may be actuated in moving uphole if desired. That is, the actuating key 48 will engage each uphole shoulder encountered, but if it is desired merely to retract the apparatus 20 out of the hole, additional upward movement of the support body 30 relative to the part 42 will again overcome the action of the resetting spring 66 to allow the retracting shoulder 70 to again retract the actuating key 48 into the support body 30 and allow continued upward movement out of the hole of the apparatus 20. If for any reason, the key 48 cannot be retracted by the retracting shoulder 70, the apparatus 20 may be further jarred upwardly to shear the emergency shear pin 50 to allow the key 48 to be retracted into the interior of the body part 42.

However, in order for the actuating key 48 to be placed in a rotative position to engage the downwardly facing shoulder 28 of the mandrel 12 and to place the apparatus 20 in a rotative position for moving the shifting tool 33 out and over the sidepocket l6, suitable orientation means must be provided. Referring now to FIG. 3, the case 36 of the support 30 includes adjacent its lower end and below the pocket 16 a second movable body carrying an orientation key 82 which is pivotally connected to the movable body 80 at its lower end by an emergency shear pin 84. Support body 38 also includes an opening 86 through which the guide key 82 is yieldably urged outwardly by a spring 88. The orientating key 82 includes an upwardly directed shoulder 90 which, when the key 82 is below the guide surface 26, will contact the surface 26 thereby rotating and aligning the valve handling apparatus 20 in the open bore 14 as the orienting key 82 moves along the guide surface 26 and into the longitudinal guide slot 24 for orienting the actuating key 48 into position below the shoulder 28 of the mandrel 12 for release of the kickover tool 32. In addition, the orientating key 82 includes an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face 92 so that the key 82 will readily pass downwardly through the well bore over any protruding shoulders therein. While the upward movement of the orienting key 82 in the longitudinal slot 24 will rotate and orient the apparatus 20 as the key 82 is moved upwardly in the slot, the key 82 will also retain the apparatus in its oriented position after the shifting tool 32 has been released by the actuating key 48 contacting shoulder 28. Then as the apparatus 20 is moved downwardly over the pocket 16 for removing or installing a flow valve 19, the orienting key 18 will move downwardly in the longitudinal slot 24 keeping the tool 26 oriented and aligned with the sidepocket 16.

Once the valve 19 has been installed or removed, or in the event that the apparatus 20 has been run past the desired mandrel and into a lower mandrel E2, the apparatus 20 may be retracted upwardly, either out of the tubing 10 or moved upwardly through an uphole mandrel 12 in which the work is desired to be performed. Of course, as the apparatus 20 is moved uphole, the orienting key 82 may contact downwardly directed shoulders in the well bore such as the shoulder 28, in which event the support body 30 may be moved upwardly relative to the movable body 80 and against the action of a resetting spring 90. It is also noted that the support body has a retracting shoulder which will engage the tapered face 92 on the key 82 on upward movement of the support body 30 relative to the movable body 80 thereby retracting the key 82 into the interior of the support 30 whereby the apparatus 20 may be moved uphole to the next adjacent mandrel 12 thereabove. Because of the action of the resetting spring 90 acting against the movable body 80, and the action of the spring 88, the orienting key 82 is normally urged outwardly to act in the next adjacent above orienting sleeve so that the apparatus 20 may be actuated in moving uphole if desired. That is, the key 80 will engage each uphole orientation sleeve 22 and rotate and orient the apparatus 20. However, if it is desired to merely retract the apparatus 20 out of the hole 20, and the orienting key 82 catches on a downwardly facing shoulder in the tubing, additional upward movement of the support body 30 relative to the movable body 80 will again overcome the action of the resetting spring 90 to allow the retracting shoulder 100 to again retract the orienting key 82 into the body 30 and allow continued upward movement out of the hole of the apparatus 20. If for any reason, the key 82 cannot be retracted by the retracting shoulder 100, the apparatus may be further jarred upwardly to shear the emergency pin 84 to allow the key 82 to be retracted into the interior of the body 30.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprisr a mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing,

a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore,

an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount,

a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket, and

a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus, said actuating shoulder positioned out of the open bore and above the pocket.

2. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprisa mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing,

a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore,

an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket and positioned below the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount,

a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket, and

a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus.

3. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprisa mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing,

a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore,

an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount,

a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket,

a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus, and

a valve handling apparatus comprising,

a support body adapted to be moved in the well tubing,

a longitudinal movable actuating key having an upwardly directed shoulder for coacting with the actuating shoulder in the mandrel and movably carried by the support body adjacent the top of the support body,

a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body for supporting a valve handling support,

releasing means between the shifting tool and the actuating key for initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the open bore,

shifting means connected to the shifting tool for shifting the shifting tool into position over the pocket when the releasing means is actuated, and

an orientating key carried by the support body adjacent the lower end of the support body, said orientating key having an upwardly directed shoulder for coacting with the orientation sleeve for orientating the shifting tool and actuating key relative to the mandrel.

4. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprisa mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing,

a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore,

an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount,

a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket,

a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus, and

a valve handling apparatus comprising,

a support body adapted to be moved in the well tubing,

a movable body carried by and longitudinally movable relative to the support body,

an actuating key having an upwardly directed shoulder and an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face and pivotally carried at its lower end by the movable body for outward movement from the movable body for engagement with the downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the mandrel,

a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body for supporting a valve handling support,

releasing means on said movable body initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the open bore,

shifting means connected to the shifting tool for outwardly for engagement with the actuating shoulder on upward movement of the support, a key retracting shoulder on the support body for retracting the actuating key when the support is shifting the shifting tool into the sidepocket when moved upwardly relative to the movable body, the releasing means is actuated, spring means between said support body and the a second movable body carried by and longitudimovable body yieldably urging said movable nally movable relative to the support body adjabody upwardly relative to the support body, cent the lower endof the support, a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support a guide key having an upwardly directed shoulder 10 body for supporting a valve support apparatus,

and an inwardly and downwardly directed tareleasing means on said movable body initially pered face and pivotally carried at its lower end holding the shifting tool aligned in the open bore by the second movable body for outward movebut releasable on movement of the movable body ment from the movable body and sized for endownwardly relative to the support body, gagement with the sleeve orientation slot for orishifting means connected to the shifting tool for entating the shifting tool and actuating key relative to the mandrel.

shifting the shifting tool into the sidepocket when the releasing means is released,

5. A well valve handling system for use in placing a valve in or removing a valve from a well tubing comprising, I

a mandrel having an open bore therethrough and a a second movable body carried by and adjacent the bottom of the support body below the shifting tool and longitudinally movable relative to the support body,

valve receiving pocket offset from the bore and including an actuating shoulder above the pocket and an orientation sleeve having a slot therethrough in the bore below the pocket, and

a valve handling apparatus including,

a support body adapted to be moved in the well tubing,

a movable body carried by and adjacent the top of the support body and longitudinally movable relative thereto, I

an actuating key pivotally connected to the movable body and having an upwardly directed shoulder and an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face,

spring means yieldably urging said actuating key Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 99,092, involving Patent No. 3,827 ,489, H. E. McGowen, Jr., APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FLOW VALVES, final judgment adverse to the patentee was rendered Apr. 24, 1978, as to claims 2 and 3.

[Oficz'al Gazette August 8, 1,978.] 

1. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing, a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore, an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount, a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket, and a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the Body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus, said actuating shoulder positioned out of the open bore and above the pocket.
 2. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing, a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore, an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket and positioned below the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount, a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket, and a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus.
 3. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing, a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore, an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount, a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket, a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus, and a valve handling apparatus comprising, a support body adapted to be moved in the well tubing, a longitudinal movable actuating key having an upwardly directed shoulder for coacting with the actuating shoulder in the mandrel and movably carried by the support body adjacent the top of the support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body for supporting a valve handling support, releasing means between the shifting tool and the actuating key for initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the open bore, shifting means connected to the shifting tool for shifting the shifting tool into position over the pocket when the releasing means is actuated, and an orientating key carried by the support body adjacent the lower end of the support body, said orientating key having an upwardly directed shoulder for coacting with the orientation sleeve for orientating the shifting tool and actuating key relative to the mandrel.
 4. A tubing mandrel for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel body having connecting means at each end for connection in a well tubing and having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing, a valve pocket positioned in the body offset from the open bore, an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore adjacent the pocket, said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot extending through said sleeve and angularly spaced from the axis of the pocket a predetermined amount, a guide surface positioned below such slot and directed upwardly toward the bottom of the slot for orientating a valve handling apparatus relative to the pocket, a downwardly directed actuating shoulder in the body above the pocket for actuating a valve handling apparatus, and a valve handling apparatus comprising, a support body adapted to be moved in the well tubing, a movable body carried by and longitudinally movable relative to the support body, an actuating key having an upwardly directed shoulder and an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face and pivotally carried at its lower end by the movable body for outward movement from the movable body for engagement with the downwardly directed actuating shoUlder in the mandrel, a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body for supporting a valve handling support, releasing means on said movable body initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the open bore, shifting means connected to the shifting tool for shifting the shifting tool into the sidepocket when the releasing means is actuated, a second movable body carried by and longitudinally movable relative to the support body adjacent the lower end of the support, a guide key having an upwardly directed shoulder and an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face and pivotally carried at its lower end by the second movable body for outward movement from the movable body and sized for engagement with the sleeve orientation slot for orientating the shifting tool and actuating key relative to the mandrel.
 5. A well valve handling system for use in placing a valve in or removing a valve from a well tubing comprising, a mandrel having an open bore therethrough and a valve receiving pocket offset from the bore and including an actuating shoulder above the pocket and an orientation sleeve having a slot therethrough in the bore below the pocket, and a valve handling apparatus including, a support body adapted to be moved in the well tubing, a movable body carried by and adjacent the top of the support body and longitudinally movable relative thereto, an actuating key pivotally connected to the movable body and having an upwardly directed shoulder and an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face, spring means yieldably urging said actuating key outwardly for engagement with the actuating shoulder on upward movement of the support, a key retracting shoulder on the support body for retracting the actuating key when the support is moved upwardly relative to the movable body, spring means between said support body and the movable body yieldably urging said movable body upwardly relative to the support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body for supporting a valve support apparatus, releasing means on said movable body initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the open bore but releasable on movement of the movable body downwardly relative to the support body, shifting means connected to the shifting tool for shifting the shifting tool into the sidepocket when the releasing means is released, a second movable body carried by and adjacent the bottom of the support body below the shifting tool and longitudinally movable relative to the support body, an orienting key pivotally connected to the second movable body and having an upwardly directed shoulder and an inwardly and downwardly directed tapered face, spring means yieldably urging said orientating key outwardly for engagement with the orientating sleeve, an orientating key retracting shoulder on the support for retracting the orientating key when the support is moved upwardly relative to the movable body, and spring means between said support body and the second movable body yieldably uring said movable body upwardly relative to the support body. 